Three Omaha fires caused by smoking in less than 12 hours

Omaha Fire Department crews took down three building fires in less than 12 hours and all were caused by careless smoking.

Around 5 p.m. Tuesday, firefighters were sent to 51st and Davenport in the midtown area for a house fire. There were smoke and flames coming from a second floor window. Firefighters say there was a lot of debris in the home and that made it difficult for them to reach the fire. The occupant was not inside the house at the time of the fire and no one was hurt. Investigators say it was caused by a carelessly disposed of cigarette in a second floor bedroom.

Just after 10 p.m. Tuesday, Firefighters were sent to a mobile home near 16th Street and the Storz Expressway on the city’s northeast side. Investigators say the fire was found in a rear bedroom. The resident was able to get out of the home safely before the fire department arrived. Investigators say the fire was caused as a result of careless disposal of smoking material into a trash can.

The third incident happened around 3 a.m. Wednesday near 67th Street and A Plaza in the south midtown area for an apartment building fire. Crews located a mattress on fire in a bedroom of one of the units. The resident was able to get out of the apartment before crews arrived and no one was hurt. The resident apparently fell asleep while smoking.